What kind of camper do you have?

It's been great, but this is the first time we've taken it out with the 2014 TRDOR. Our previous tow vehicle was a Subaru Outback with the 4 cyl and CVT. The Subie managed to drag us up the Rockies a couple times but just barely. The camper is around 1850lbs dry, but loaded with water/gear and the dual battery conversion probably is pushing 2300 lbs loaded (haven't weighed it yet). The Outback's tow rating was 2700 lbs but that's generous. The Tacoma's 6500 lb tow rating (offroad 4x4 V6 tow package) made pulling the little Tab super easy. You don't even notice it back there, power wise. We surely took a MPG hit but I didn't calculate it because this recent trip was less than a tank of gas round trip.

Our Tab is a late 2018 with most of the 2019 upgrades, 320S model (shower). The little camper is perfect for us (wife, me, hound dog) as former tent campers, it's pure luxury. Having a bathroom onboard makes midnight pee events a lot easier than heading into the dark woods with a flashlight. We've never used the shower, but the "galley" has a sink/2 burner LP stove and fridge. The heater is a circulating-glycol type that can run on propane or electricity. This past trip a couple mornings were in the 25F range, light freeze for a couple of hours. We stayed inside, made jiffy pop, watched movies/netflix downloads from our phones through the camper's dvd/tv system and kept the heat on 70 degrees. This model is the base model with the Outback ("offroad" version)'s rack system installed (option). The offroad version has a pitched axle that lifts the camper about 4.5" and has larger AT type tires along with a bigger/better diamond plate front rack. The Outback versions were considerably heavier so we avoided them due to the Subaru's weak tow abilities. I plan on buying the upgraded axle (around $600) from the factory and installing it myself to get some lift now.

So far we love the camper, we've had it out a dozen times with the Subaru and now once with the Tacoma and it just gets better and better every time. They're not cheap or easy to find but I highly recommend the Tab campers. They're made by Amish craftsmen and are a step above the standard Indiana-made US RVs that are everywhere.

 

One that has a shower and a pee pot. Those two items will make your female travel partner happy. Guys can pee in the woods or the side of the road
and wash off with a gallon of water.

 

Your Access cab is the I4? What is the towing capacity for your Tacoma. Find a lightweight trailer at 50-60% of your tow capacity and you will be a happy camper. Look at Jayco.

 

New Geo Pro 15TB finally arrived.

 

Nice looking unit. I'll check it out online now...what's the function of the outside "tent"? Shower? Toilet?

 

My camper is still winterized, so that's just a porta john.

 

Did you remove the Geo Pro stickers and all the other small stickers on the side of the trailer?

How does the Tacoma handle pulling this smaller trailer? MPGs? S5 transmission selection? How much dirt road can this trailer handle? ground clearance?

 

I removed the big side Geo Pro decals and also removed all of the small stickers they plastered all over it.

The Geo Pro comes with an Off-road package that provides off- road tires and a lift. The camper is not an off-road camper, it would just shake itself apart if taken on any serious trails.
It can handle maintained dirt roads, just go slow!

I just posted a pretty detailed review of my towing experience on a FB site, give me a few and I'll see if I can find it.

 

I don't own a camper, but my Uncle Craig does. He has a 1969 Airstream Caravelle which is light enough that it could be pulled behind my 4-banger Tacoma a short distance, but he pulls it with his 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins, a truck which I think is bit overkill for the job; He also owns a 1977 VW Westfalia Camper!

 

I found my post, pasted below.

I know a few people who tow a 15TB with a Tacoma so I thought I would offer up my first impression towing with my 2020 Tacoma.
My truck,
2020 Tacoma SR5 DCLB, 4x4, V6, auto, tow package(no external trans cooler).

Aftermarket add-ons,
265/75/16 Cooper AT3, load range C.
Bilstein 5100's
Roadmaster Active Suspension.
B&M Transmission cooler (70264).
Recurve R3 WDH
Tekonsha primus IQ brake controller.
The trip was on I-70 and I- 68 headed west to Little Orleans MD. The speed limit is 70mph and the route has several long moderate climbs in both directions.
The handling and weight management is very good, the WDH provided a nice controlled ride with very little rear sag. I didn't notice any trailer sway(65mph), but I could feel a little movement in the whole rig with a moderate cross wind. I accept this as normal and had no issues maintaining lane control.
Braking,
I had zero issues with the braking performance and as expected the stopping distances increased but is very controlled.
The brake controller did a great job managing the trailer brakes.
Performance,
I tow in 4th gear with ECT engaged.
The Tacoma did fine pulling at 65mph on level or slight inclines, it basically just held 4th gear and had no issues.
When I started pulling the longer steeper grades the transmission
would constantly downshift to 3rd gear to maintain 55-60mph.
I'm glad I added the transmission cooler!! I will soon be adding a Scangauge 2 to monitor trans temps.
This is just my opinion based on my towing experience but I wouldn't want to pull anything heavier than a 15TB with a Tacoma, it is adequate for 3500lbs and under.
The 3.5 V6 lacks low-end torque and makes it's power higher in the rpm range so you just get used to running higher rpm's to get the performance you need, the engine can handle it!
I won't be trading in my new Tacoma anytime soon, it does the job well and I really like my new 15TB.

 

Thanks for providing the detail review of towing the Geo Pro 15TB. Helps with decision making for those of us that are interested in this particular travel trailer.

Do you have any fuel economy results for your towing and how many miles did you tow the trailer?

 

Averaged about 10.5 mpg.
2.5 hours each way. I maintained a pretty consistent 65mph except on the steep climbs.
The camper weighs about 2600lbs dry, so I would guess loaded up the total weight would be around 3100lbs.
All tanks empty.

The Tacoma does a good job pulling the camper, it does struggle a bit on long steep highway grades, but I expected that.
If I was pulling anything over 3500lbs on a regular basis I would definitely recommend a full size truck.

 

Our small off-road rockwood pop up camper.

 

I have the same trailer. Love it so far. Took it CO-TX-LA-MS-AL-GA and back to CO over Christmas. Flawless adventure, looking forward to many more.

Mine came without any decals.

 

Sold our camper last summer. Giving the canopy a go this year, had our first night this weekend. Still a little cold up in the mountains, but wasn’t too bad.

 

Who makes the canopy you are using?

edit.. I see the canopy is an ARE commercial series..

 

The one on the left is a basket case needing a rebuild. The center one is just about ready to camp. The rpod showed us the best way to travel in America, and it's also for sale.

 

I like your glow in the dark farm.

 

Which model Rpod is it?
TIA

 

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